This is the Original Poster NOT the Poster for the 'Sequel'
which is not yet available
 |  | Get Showtimes... |
Review #329 of 365
Movie Review of Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj (2006) [R] 96 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $6.25
Where Viewed: Colorado Cinemas Cherry Creek 8, Denver, CO
When 1st Seen: 6 December 2006
Time: 10:15 p.m.
Film's Official Website
DVD Release Date: unscheduled
Directed by: Mort Nathan (Boat Trip)
Written by: David Drew Gallagher based on characters created by Brent Goldberg (Van Wilder) and David Wagner (Van Wilder)
Featured Cast (Where You Might Remember Him/Her From):
Kal Penn (Superman Returns) • Lauren Cohan (Casanova) • Daniel Percival ("Sinchronicity") • Glen Barry ("Holby City") • Anthony Cozens ("Bleak House") • Steven Rathman (debut) • Holly Davidson ("Casualty")
Soundtrack: order the CD below
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word or less review of this film]
Strangely enough, I was actually looking forward to the release of the sequel to one of my life's most influential movies. Despite its extreme gross out scenes and moronic, juvenile, tasteless humor, National Lampoon's Van Wilder starring Ryan Reynolds, introduced the world to a character whose goal in life was to better the lives of others and have a good time but who refused to grow and take on new challenges. At one point in my life, I was inspired by the film to leave comfortable confines to which I had grown accustomed, much like Van Wilder finally does, to accept new challenges and 'grow up' so to speak. So, for me, the film, believe it or not, like it or not, has special significance to me. I should have known better when I heard via the grapevine of IMDb that a sequel was in the works—without Van Wilder? What is the point of a Van Wilder sequel with no Van Wilder? Oh, I see, it's a sequel only in title, the reuse of Van Wilder's protégé, Taj Badalandadad (Kal Penn), the English bull dog Ballsac, and a similar but unequal plot line that's not even 10% as funny and not even 1% as significant in the grander scheme of things. It should probably be enough said that the most entertaining character to be 'sequelized' is four-legged. More and more, as studios try to milk profits from previously established characters, movies, storied, etc. the results tend to go straight to video: Starship Troopers 2, Hollow Man 2, etc. Well, this faulty sequel should have followed that path if it had to be made at all. Now, the film is not without some redeeming qualities although the "underdog losers overcome all odds to win a point-based cup away from snobby, aristocratic, obnoxious, rich, cheating, jerks" theme has been used in so many films as to become trite-extreme and just about every character is a cliché of a cliché. Hmm. So, what then are the redeeming factors you might wonder. Well, Kal Penn's eager performance is not without some bright moments as the unlikely hero of a house of losers at Camford University in England. Kal's Taj Mahal Badalandabad arrives with an acceptance letter to the prestigious House of Foxes and Hounds only to be told by the house leader, Pipp Everett, the Earl of Grey (Daniel Percival) that his letter contains a typo, it is missing a "not" before the word "accepted". Believing this ruse, Taj accepts the leadership role of "The Barn" a house of misbegotten and woeful individuals, the true losers of the university: the Irishman Seamus (Glen Barry) with a penchant of butting heads with and knocking people unconscious, the Harry Potter look-a-like Gethin (Anthony Cozens) with a penchant for Stephen Hawking, the video game-aholic Simon (Steven Rathman) with a rather robust appendage, and Sadie the Cockney English-speaking bad chick (Holly Davidson) with a penchant for knocking blokes flat on their behinds for failing to comprehend her. So, with an enemy like Pipp and a band of misfits as his sidekicks, Taj has his work cut out for him. Worse, Pipp's girlfriend, for whom Taj develops an instantaneous crush, Charlotte Higginson (Lauren Cohan), is also his supervisor as a graduate student instructor. He wants to teach in an unconventional more realistic and hands-on way with field trips and battle reenactments, and she wants him to stick to the curriculum as provided by the university. Just like in Harry Potter, the houses of the university compete annually for the Hastings Cup based on receiving points for competitions, mind matches, and social service.
"…trite-extreme and just about every character is a cliché of a cliché…"
They compete in such events as beer consumption, rugby, and a preposterous dog show—but, hey, there had to be ways to get Ballsac into the story right? Unfortunately, too many of the jokes are either recycled from the original or outright borrowed from previous films of the same genre. Some might consider this a tribute to previous great films, alas the films referenced are not classics yet and the material wasn't that funny in the originals. What happened to the signature lampooning of National Lampoon? I guess it's hard to find a good way to lampoon your own lampoon. The other bright spot was Lauren Cohan. She springs forth a decently liberated woman, in charge of the graduate teachers and holding her own against Pipp as she falls for Taj. Nonetheless, the film possesses all of the usual sexist, racist, and humiliating humor we have grown to expect in comedies pitched to satisfy audiences who flock to this drama. Honestly, I think even they will be sadly disappointed by this film and its lack of originality and lack of worthwhile comedy. Certainly, a straight-to-video release would have better suited the film, but one has to wonder why they simply didn't take the noble path and decide either to make a great Van Wilder sequel with Van Wilder or let the original stand on its limited laurels rather than romping it through the mud. Oh, and if you decide to ignore me and see this film because you feel I must have just gotten too old and stuffy to recognize good, old-fashioned, teen comedy when I see it, don't bother to stay after the credits expecting a surprise cameo by Ryan Reynolds, it doesn't happen.
Back to Top | W.I.P. Scale™ | Most Recently Reviewed Films | Films of 2005 | Films of 2006
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Other Projects Featuring Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj (2006)
Cast Members
Kal Penn
• Lauren Cohan • Daniel PercivalGlen Barry
• Anthony Cozens • Steven RathmanHolly Davidson
Director
Mort Nathan
Writer
David Drew Gallagher
| CD Soundtrack | DVD | VHS |
| Related DVD | Related DVD | Related VHS |
Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj (2006) Review-lite [150-word cap]
What's the point of a Van Wilder sequel with no Van Wilder? The Rise of Taj, is a sequel only in title, reuse of Van Wilder's protégé, Taj Badalandadad (Kal Penn), the appearance of English bull dog Ballsac, and a similar but unequal plot line. Cruelly assigned to lead a pack of "underdog losers" Taj must overcome all odds to win a point-based cup away from snobby, aristocratic, obnoxious, cheating, jerks" in a theme that has been used in so many films as to become trite-extreme. Meanwhile, just about every character is a cliché of a cliché. Too many of the jokes are either recycled from the original or outright borrowed from previous films of the same genre. What happened to the signature lampooning ability of National Lampoon? A straight-to-video release would've better suited the film. Don't wait after the credits for a Ryan Reynolds cameo, it doesn't happen.
No comments:
Post a Comment